I always enjoy receiving the newsletter of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation because it keeps me posted on the latest in equine research. It seems as if lameness and reproductive problems will never go away and the only way to find answers is through research. Unfortunately, since it's not supported by the Standardbred industry, none of the research is specific to trotters or pacers, but much of the research applies to all horses and is very worthwhile.

The most recent newsletter had a gift item that the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation is selling: It's a tee shirt with the words "Hay, Oats, & Water" emblazoned on the front.

That's the goal for many people in horse racing; they want to get back to the days when horses raced on hay, oats, and water and their natural ability. We've strayed from that path in recent decades and we've seen the results in declining public and media support. We've all too often had "better racing through chemistry."

You can buy the tee shirt for $25 and support a very worthwhile cause at the same time. The shirts came in Small to XX Large and there is no shipping charge.

To place an order, call Grayson-Jockey Club Resesrch Foundation at (859) 224-2850 or go to the website at www.grayson-jockeyclub.org and open the PDF of its current newsletter. All the information on how to order is in the newsletter and you can pay with major credit cards.

I'm planning to order one, and I'm tempted to order some for a few trainers who probably think that hay, oats, and water is a ridiculously old-fashioned way to expect success in horse racing. I wonder if they'd have the nerve to wear it?